Brian Minto acknowledges the crown after his cruiser weight title fight with Pierre Karam was stopped after three rounds at Ghostriders in Center Twp.

CENTER TWP — A strained lower back has sidelined Brian Minto — for the time being.

The 36-year-old Butler cruiserweight suffered the injury while training for a bout against an undetermined opponent April 29 at Kittanning's Belmont Arena.

A TV deal was never struck for that show and Minto's injury forced its cancellation.

“It happened a few weeks ago and it's still sore, but it's getting better,” Minto said of his back. “I was doing an exercise and just moved the wrong way. It happens.”

“He's still training, but he hasn't been able to spar,” Minto's manager, Pat Nelson, said. “Brian is a gym rat. He's lifting weights and staying in shape.

“He's staying as close to 200 pounds as he can, prepared to take a fight on short notice.”

Minto has only had three fights — totaling 15 rounds — in the past 17 months. Nelson said Minto will fight sometime this summer.

“Even if we don't land a title fight, I won't keep him out of the ring longer than that,” Nelson said.

But a cruiserweight title fight remains the goal.

Minto, 35-4 with 22 KO's, is ranked No. 13 in the cruiserweight division by the WBC. Poland's Krzysztof Wlodarczyk, 45-2 with 32 KO's, is the WBC champion and successfully defended his title April 2.

Steve Cunningham (24-2, 12 KO's) of Philadelphia is the IBF champion and last fought in February. Danny Green (31-3, 27 KO's) of Australia is the IBO champion and is scheduled to defend that title July 20 against Antonio Tarver.

“Brian is an eligible opponent for a title defense against any of those guys,” Nelson said. “My dream fight is Minto against Cunningham, somewhere near Butler, for the IBF title. It could be a huge draw on major network TV.

Cunningham is the only fighter to defeat Marco Huck, holder of the WBA cruiserweight belt and a victor over Minto in a nine-round fight last year.

“If we don't get a title shot, I'm looking to set up a club show either at Pullman Park, the Farm Show grounds, Belmont Arena ... somewhere around here.”

Minto is hoping he doesn't have to go through another tune-up bout.

“If that's all there is, you take it, but I don't need it at this point,” Minto said. “What's another win? If I have 35 or 36 career wins, there's no difference. It doesn't do anything for me.

“People think I'm finished because I'm 36. I don't pay attention to age. I feel great. I want another title shot. That's the goal.”

Minto's last fight was a two-round victory over Pierre Karam Oct. 29 in Butler. Karam did not come out of his corner for the third round after taking a solid beating.

“I've needed this break, really,” Minto said. “It's been good for me. This is the most time I've been able to spend with my family in probably 10 years.”